Manning Up!

by Mike Straus | May 1, 2026

Men’s health issues and nutritional needs are taking center stage among practitioners.

The men’s health space is continuing to diversify as the broader culture redefines what male wellness looks like. Men’s health is gaining a significant amount of attention from practitioners, specifically around preventive health and cardiovascular health. Men of all ages are also taking better care of themselves, prioritizing proper nutrition, exercise, weight loss, preservation of muscle mass, and mental health. As the men’s health space continues to expand, more practitioners will find ways to support male health through lifestyle, supplementation, counseling and diet. Here are just some of the emerging trends in the men’s health space.

Healthy Aging, Mental Health Become Core Priorities

Healthy aging and mental health are becoming major priorities for both male patients and their practitioners. Dayna Dye, education content writer for Life Extension in Fort Lauderdale, FL, said that an epidemic of despair among men has gained recent attention.

“The American Psychological Association reported findings from the “State of American Men 2025” that revealed a rate of experiencing fatal drug overdose that was twice as high among men as women, and a suicide rate that was close to four times higher,” Dye said. “The pressure of societal expectations for men appears to play a role. Many men are unaware of the relationship between healthy lifestyle and a healthy mood.”

Dye noted that other major men’s health issues that are trending today include those related to aging, such as imbalances in testosterone and estrogen, low muscle mass, diminished libido, erectile dysfunction, male pattern hair loss, enlargement of the prostate gland, and prostate cancer.

While many of these issues may seem like separate problems, Viral Shah, senior business development director for Saanroo in Austin, TX, explained that these health issues are connected. Shah explained that there’s significant overlap between prostate health, metabolic dysfunction, sleep disruption and mood, and men are increasingly connecting these dots rather than treating them as separate issues.

“Population studies show that testosterone levels in men have been steadily declining for decades,” Shah said. “And it’s starting earlier, often in the mid-30s. One other thing that’s very specific to 2026 is what we’re calling the GLP-1 Muscle-Metabolism Trap. As more men use weight-loss medications, they’re looking for ways to avoid losing lean muscle mass alongside fat. That’s become a real conversation in the practitioner space. Hair health is another area that’s gaining traction; men want systemic, inside-out solutions, not just topical fixes.”

Erin Stokes, ND, is the medical director at supplement brand WishGarden Herbs in Louisville, CO. Dr. Stokes explained that there’s a growing priority among young men to ensure adequate protein intake; meanwhile, iron status is often overlooked in young men and can be a common deficiency in growing teenage male athletes.

“As men move into the middle-aged years, nutrient-dense foods become particularly important as overall caloric needs decrease,” Dr. Stokes said. “B vitamin intake through food and supplements is crucial during these years for energy metabolism. Increasing fiber intake can help support gut health and overall heart health, two primary concerns of both middle-aged and older men. As men move into older age, it’s crucial that they focus on protein at every meal to maintain muscle mass.”

Meanwhile, Maura MacDonald, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN, medical education specialist—sports nutrition with supplement brand Thorne in Summerville, SC, explained that men’s health is getting a lot of attention specifically around preventable chronic issues such as heart health and metabolic health. MacDonald noted that cardiovascular health remains a top concern, while hormonal health has also become a priority.

For Conor Watters, ND, sales and marketing at Ayush Herbs in Redmond, WA, men’s health has shifted considerably in recent years. Testosterone optimization, Dr. Watters said, has come to the forefront as testosterone replacement therapy moves out of the fringe anti-aging clinics and into mainstream medicine.

“We’ve also seen enormous interest in shilajit as a natural adjunct for testosterone support,” Dr. Watters explained. “Plus, there’s a performance culture driving clinical demand that didn’t exist at this scale a decade ago. Ultra-marathon running, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and bowhunting aren’t just niche pursuits anymore. Men are showing up to their practitioners asking serious questions about recovery, tissue integrity and longevity of performance. That’s a good problem to have.”

Celine Torres-Moon, MD, senior scientist at Protocol for Life Balance in Bloomingdale, IL explained that there are key nutrient deficiencies among men of all ages in the United States. Dr. Torres-Moon specifically cited vitamin D, potassium, magnesium, calcium, fiber and vitamin C as the most common nutritional deficiencies in American men. She also mentioned that for older and frail men, protein intake is important to meet nutritional needs.

EuroMedica Chief of Scientific Affairs and Education Cheryl Myers in Green Bay, WI noted that physical strength, sexual performance and prostate and bladder issues are all trending in men’s health. One emerging development she’s noticed, though, is that men are increasingly open to alternative and integrative approaches, whereas in the past they may have simply ignored health concerns or only reluctantly sought out mainstream answers.

Fertility is another key area for men’s health. Rosia Parrish, ND, a fertility specialist at the Naturopathic Wellness Center of Boulder in Boulder, CO, explained that men’s fertility is undergoing a significant shift—a shift that’s showing up in clinical practice.

“What we’re seeing is not just a decline in sperm count, but a broader pattern of metabolic dysfunction, hormonal imbalance, environmental burden and nervous system dysregulation that is impacting male fertility in more complex ways than we’ve historically recognized,” Dr. Parrish said. “One of the most important changes is that sperm quality has become more clinically relevant than sperm quantity. Many men present with normal semen analyses, but when we look more closely, we see impairments in motility, morphology, and, increasingly, DNA fragmentation. This is critical because it affects not only the ability to conceive, but also pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriage risk.”

Supplements Trend for Prostate Health, Testosterone Support

Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, in Kailua-Kona, HI, is a Natural Practitioner Advisory Board member and a board-certified internist. Dr. Teitelbaum noted that there are several key supplementation regimens that men can and should implement to improve their overall health; one of the most important supplements men should take, he said, is a high-potency multivitamin, such as Essentials by EuroMedica.

“In addition, high-absorption berberine can be very helpful for overall metabolic health, including decreasing the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol,” Dr. Teitelbaum explained. “The problem is that the effective dose of 500 milligrams three times per day can cause nausea and stomach upset—so instead, I recommend a high-absorption berberine that contains natural GammasOrb to increase absorption.”

Dye noted that prostate health, including prostate size, urine flow and blood levels of prostate-specific antigen have become a major concern for almost all older men. She explained that saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) has been a tried-and-true natural remedy for prostate health that continues to remain popular, while other herbs like Pygeum africanum and nettle root are often part of prostate health regimens.

“Testosterone support is also trending,” Dye said. “Natural remedies like pomegranate and cacao support youthful levels of free testosterone.”

For testosterone support, Shah said that fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) continues to grow in popularity. Meanwhile, berberine is having a moment for metabolic health, while saffron for mood and sleep is emerging as a credible, non-sedating option for men.

“The major trend right now is bioavailability-enhanced formulations,” Shah noted. “Brands and practitioners are moving away from high-dose, poorly absorbed ingredients toward smarter delivery.”

For Dr. Watters, shilajit is leading the conversation in men’s health supplements, and for good reason. Shilajit’s research base, Dr. Watters explained, is expanding, and its mechanisms of action are giving clinicians something concrete to discuss rather than simply referring to tradition.

“Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) remains one of the most consistently validated botanicals in men’s health,” Dr. Watters added. “The evidence for improved sleep architecture, enhanced lifting performance, and meaningful anabolic support is solid. It’s not glamorous anymore, but that’s because it works, and practitioners keep recommending it.”

For prostate health specifically, Dr. Watters noted that the combination of saw palmetto, DIM, zinc, boron and selenium represents a well-reasoned multi-target approach. These compounds address estrogen metabolism, DHT activity, and the mineral environment in which prostate tissues function. Dr. Watters explained that Ayush Herbs’ Prostate Formula brings all of these ingredients together into a single preparation.

Emerging Studies Validate Ingredients for Men’s Health

A variety of new clinical and preclinical studies are proving out several nutraceutical ingredients for various aspects of men’s health. One randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in Andrologia examined the effects of purified shilajit in healthy male volunteers aged 45 to 55, which is precisely the window when androgen decline begins to assert itself clinically. This study examined the effects of 250 mg twice per day of purified shilajit (Natreon’s PrimaVie brand) on testosterone concentration in 96 healthy male subjects. The subjects were randomly assigned to receive either the shilajit concentration or a matching placebo for 90 days. The study authors screened the subjects for testosterone, free testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and dehydroepiandrotestosterone (DHEAs) concentrations at baseline and after 90 days. The subjects were also screened at baseline using the St. Louis University ADAM questionnaire, a self-report screening for testosterone deficiency.

The study authors found that after 90 days, the treatment group saw significant increases in free testosterone, testosterone, FSH and DHEAs, as well as a maintenance of baseline levels of LH. The authors concluded that shilajit significantly increases testosterone and free testosterone while maintaining testosterone synthesis and secretion.1

Another study, a 2026 prospective study of sperm DNA fragmentation in 214 infertile men aged 25 to 45 who were undergoing infertility evaluation, examined the differences in sperm DNA between a normal-testosterone group and a low-testosterone group. This study determined that low testosterone levels are associated with increased DNA damage to sperm, as well as global alteration of sperm quality, concentration, motility, morphology and vitality. The study authors note that further investigations could evaluate whether correcting testosterone levels in men below the identified threshold has an impact on sperm DNA integrity, semen parameters and reproductive outcomes.2

Lifestyle Interventions Support Physical and Mental Health

With men’s health issues spanning a wide range of health domains, practitioners have several lifestyle-based interventions they can deploy to help male patients achieve optimal health. Dr. Stokes recommended a daily meditation practice; she explained that daily meditation has profound mental and physical health benefits, including lowering cortisol levels and improving sleep quality.

MacDonald, meanwhile, said that practitioners can recommend to their male patients that they build out a daily exercise routine consisting of both cardio and strength training. She also noted that limiting alcohol and eating a balanced, nutritious diet are key for men who are looking to increase overall wellness and support longevity.

“As men get older, it is critical to maintain a consistent protein intake to help mitigate the loss of muscle mass,” MacDonald said. “This can be difficult, as appetite often declines with age, but making sure to have a source of protein like beef, chicken, fish, eggs or beans with every meal can be a great start.”

MacDonald noted that the next major innovation in men’s health will be similar to what has recently happened in women’s health—men’s health will become more personalized and more data-driven, with recommendations for healthy aging based on each patient’s unique needs.

Dr. Torres-Moon said that weight-loss programs that support a healthy diet and healthy exercise have multiple benefits for men’s health. She noted that men, much like women, tend to follow influencers who promote fad diets that don’t offer long-term health solutions and may even be detrimental to cardiovascular health.

Myers, meanwhile, said that practitioners should advise their male patients to cut refined carbs and sugars from their diets, instead replacing those foods with healthy proteins, fats, vegetables, nuts and fiber. Proper diet, paired with a sensible exercise regimen, she said, is necessary for improvement in health across the board, including sexual performance, maintaining muscle mass and cardiovascular health.

“Practitioners generally have an excellent sense of what each patient needs at an individual level,” Myers said. “Some patients are going to be reluctant to schedule exercise or make changes to their diets, so introducing those recommendations in small, actionable steps is usually best. Aiming for small, yet significant, changes can yield success with weight, energy and overall well-being.”

Dye went further on the diet front, explaining that Mediterranean or DASH diets are ideal recommendations. Practitioners, she said, should also encourage men to attend their annual physicals and seek help for any psychological concerns.

Shah underscored the importance of resistance training two times per week, explaining that it remains one of the most powerful natural interventions for testosterone and metabolic health, and it’s only becoming more relevant as the muscle-preservation conversation grows.

Dr. Watters said that sleep is the foundation of men’s health, and it remains the most underestimated clinical lever available. He also noted that stress regulation is a pillar that practitioners often address too late.

“Cortisol dysregulation is downstream from almost every chronic disease pattern I see in men, and the interventions that work are simple in principle and deeply effective in practice,” Dr. Watters said. “Men who hunt, hike, build things with their hands, or pursue physical challenges outdoors are engaging in some of the most potent stress-regulatory medicine available.”

Men’s Health to Center Around Vigor, Energy

Myers said she expects the men’s health space to continue to center around maintain a sense of youthful vigor and energy. More men, she said, are becoming more open about their desire to stay younger-looking and more youthful in their abilities, whether that means sexual performance or better workouts at the gym.

As the men’s health space grows and more men become concerned about maintaining their overall health, natural and alternative medicine providers will need to develop a deeper understanding of the lifestyle interventions and dietary supplement options available to their patients. With mental health and healthy aging being core priorities for male patients, practitioners will need to be prepared to have those conversations and recommend evidence-backed interventions.

References:

1 Pandit S et al. “Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers.” Andrologia, vol. 48 no. 5 (May 2016):570-575.

2 Serbouti A et al. “Low testosterone and sperm quality alterations: A prospective study of sperm DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation in infertile men.” Biology (Basel), vol. 15 no. 3 (February 2026): 287.

Healthy Take Aways

• There’s significant overlap between prostate health, metabolic dysfunction, sleep disruption and mood.
• Young men are increasingly focused on protein intake while overlooking iron intake.
• Prostate health has become a major concern for almost all older men.
• Weight loss, muscle retention and diet are important considerations for aging men.